M&A Deal Summary

Bridgepoint, Cornerstone Investment Management and Griffin Capital Partners Acquire SMYK

On January 15, 2016, private equity firm Bridgepoint, private equity firm Cornerstone Investment Management and private equity real estate Griffin Capital Partners acquired retailer SMYK from Empik for 247M EUR

Acquisition Highlights
  • This is Bridgepoint’s 10th, Cornerstone Investment Management’s 1st and Griffin Capital Partners’ 1st transaction in the Retail sector.
  • This is Bridgepoint’s 31st, Cornerstone Investment Management’s and Griffin Capital Partners’ largest (disclosed) transaction.
  • This is Bridgepoint’s 3rd, Cornerstone Investment Management’s 3rd and Griffin Capital Partners’ 3rd transaction in Poland.
Investment Fate
  • SMYK was sold to a consortium of financial buyers in 2024.

M&A Deal Summary
Date 2016-01-15
Target SMYK
Sector Retail
Buyer(s) Bridgepoint
Cornerstone Investment Management
Griffin Capital Partners
Sellers(s) Empik
Deal Type Divestiture
Deal Value 247M EUR
Advisor(s) Travers Smith (Legal)

Target

SMYK

Warsaw, Poland
SMYK is a kids brand, offering toys, clothes and accessories for children available in over 250 shops in Poland, Romania, Ukraine and the Middle East and additionally SMYK's own brand products are available in 14 European countries and Asia. SMYK was founded in 2000 and is based in Warsaw, Poland.

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Buyer(S) 3

Buyer

Bridgepoint

London, United Kingdom

Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor

Category Private Equity Firm
Founded 1984
PE ASSETS 28.2B EUR
Size Mega
Type Sector Agnostic
DESCRIPTION

Bridgepoint is a large European private equity firm that invests in middle-market companies across a broad range of industries with an enterprise value of €200 - €1000 million. Prospective transaction situations include buyouts, buy-ins, growth financings, consolidations, and take privates. The firms invest in the range of €75 - €400 million transaction. Bridgepoint Development Capital specializes in investments in businesses valued up to a €150 million, taking equity stakes of between €10 million and €75 million. General sectors of interest include consumer products and services, retail, financial services, healthcare, media, technology, industrials, and business services. Bridgepoint was formed in 1984 and has offices in London, Frankfurt, Luxembourg, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Stockholm and Warsaw.

DEAL STATS #
Overall 106 of 176
Sector (Retail) 10 of 10
Type (Divestiture) 12 of 19
Country (Poland) 3 of 3
Year (2016) 2 of 9
Size (of disclosed) 31 of 59
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2016-01-07 Anaveo

Champagne-au-Mont-d'Or, France

Anaveo manufactures digital video surveillance systems. The company provides design, installation and recurring maintenance services across a full range of products in intelligent video surveillance systems. Anaveo was founded in 1985 and is based in Champagne-au-Mont-d'Or, France.

Buy -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2016-02-11 Unifaun

Stockholm, Sweden

Unifaun is a provider of Transport Administration (“TA”) services in the Nordics, providing a SaaS platform connecting freight carriers and shippers of all sizes. Unifaun is based in Stockholm, Sweden.

Sell -
Buyer

Cornerstone Investment Management

Investor

Category Private Equity Firm
Founded 2001
PE ASSETS 7.0B EUR
Size Mega
Type Sector Agnostic
DESCRIPTION

Cornerstone Investment Management is a private equity firm focused on acquiring mid-sized companies in Poland and Eastern Europe. The Firm is a generalist investor and looks to back experienced management teams to grow and transform their businesses. Cornerstone Investment Management was formed in 2001 and is headquartered in Warsaw.

DEAL STATS #
Overall 3 of 8
Sector (Retail) 1 of 1
Type (Divestiture) 1 of 2
Country (Poland) 3 of 7
Year (2016) 1 of 2
Size (of disclosed) 1 of 1
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2015-01-01 Multimedia Polska

Gdynia, Poland

Multimedia Polska is a nationwide cable operator that offers a digital television with video on demand, broadband and mobile data and fixed-line and mobile voice in Poland. Multimedia Polska is based in Gdynia, Poland.

Buy -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2016-03-10 ProService

Warsaw, Poland

ProService is a provider of technology services and solutions to mutual and pension funds, insurance companies, and banks. The Company offers a variety of services including transfer agent, asset valuation, fund distribution, asset management, corporate accounting, manage Services, and IT solutions. ProService is based in Warsaw, Poland.

Buy -
Buyer

Griffin Capital Partners

Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor

Category Private Equity Real Estate
Founded 2006
PE ASSETS 3.5B USD
Size Large
Type Sector Focused
DESCRIPTION

Griffin Real Estate is a private equity real estate firm focused on developing and acquiring real-estate related assets and companies in Central and Eastern Europe. Griffin Real Estate was formed in 2006 and is headquartered in Warsaw.

DEAL STATS #
Overall 3 of 10
Sector (Retail) 1 of 1
Type (Divestiture) 1 of 1
Country (Poland) 3 of 8
Year (2016) 1 of 1
Size (of disclosed) 1 of 1
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2015-03-14 Echo Investment

Kielce, Poland

Echo Investment is a developer with extensive experience in the three main sectors of the real estate market: residential, retail and service as well as offices. Echo Investment was founded in 1992 and is based in Kielce, Poland.

Buy -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2018-01-01 European Logistics Investment

Amsterdam, Netherlands

European Logistics Investment is a logistics platform that is offering accessibility warehouse space for business. European Logistics Investment was formed in 2018 and is based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Buy -

Seller(S) 1

SELLER

Empik

Warszawa, Poland
Category Company
Founded 1948
Sector E-Commerce
DESCRIPTION

Empik is an e-commerce distributor of media and entertainment products, clothing, shoes, toys, and accessories for children, cosmetics as well as language courses. Empik was formed in 1948 and is based in Warszawa, Poland.

DEAL STATS #
Overall 1 of 1
Sector (Retail) 1 of 1
Type (Divestiture) 1 of 1
Country (Poland) 1 of 1
Year (2016) 1 of 1
Size (of disclosed) 1 of 1
Mergr

Product

Company

Legal